His first four teams finished one behind the 1980-83 teams for the most wins with 42. Richt's past three teams experienced victory 34 times, the most of any three consecutive teams in Georgia history. The 1980-82 teams won 33 times, but as Richt is quick to point out, his past three squads played more games. For the record, 34-6 vs. 33-3 for Herschel Walker's teams.

What this suggests is that Richt's last three teams have something in common with Vince Dooley's teams of 1980-83. There is a consistency of winning performance. When you average 10 wins a year, you have something to boast about. Richt pointed out to his players pregame Saturday in Tampa, "nine wins is a good season. Ten is a great season. It is not, however, perfection, which is our goal."

Perfection in football is difficult to come by. Not many coaches ever achieve that distinction. Bear Bryant pulled it off three times, when there were fewer games played and he had schedule control. (If a lesser team had been aligned between LSU and Tennessee and Florida and Auburn, consider what this team might have accomplished.) Bobby Bowden has had only one undefeated team in an illustrious career.

Loran

Smith

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If you are going to reach perfection, you need that consistency of success. Some day it may happen to Richt, who has maintained excellence from the start. His first team which was adjusting to a new staff and a new system, lost three games by a combined 26 points.

When Richt arrived, he patterned his program after what he experienced under Bowden. It was a good model for him to follow.

There is a telling difference by comparison, however. The ACC did not offer the same challenge Richt has faced and will face at Georgia. It is tougher to win the SEC East than most entire conferences. Bowden, in truth, had it somewhat easy which is why he was reluctant to join the SEC.

Southern Cal, for example, has, with rival UCLA down, only one tough game, California. When Oklahoma beats Texas, it has conquered the only real threat in its division. Georgia has three power opponents in Tennessee, Florida and Auburn. South Carolina had designs on a title under Lou Holtz and will see its lofty ambition intensify under Steve Spurrier. Is the SEC East the toughest division in college football?

Until this year, when Southern Cal, Oklahoma, Utah and Auburn finished their regular seasons undefeated, more often than not, the national champion lately has lost at least one game.

Watching Richt up close during his time in Athens, I have concluded that he has the making of a coach who will someday add a national championship to his resume. Even that goal is difficult to achieve when you consider a man, highly regarded by his peers, Bo Schembechler of Michigan, never claimed the big prize.

If you hang around first place, as Richt has done, you have a chance to win it all. Jack Nicklaus not only won more major championships than any man who has ever played the game, he has finished second more than anybody else. Hang around the lead long enough and perfection may someday become a reality.